Healing through Heritage: Using Navajo food traditions to tackle diabetes and infections
Official title: Healing through Heritage: Leveraging Indigenous Food Systems for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases in Native American Communities
Funded at Navajo Technical University · NIH-11370507 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Navajo Technical University-led effort will study traditional Navajo foods and plants to help prevent and treat diabetes and related infections in Diné communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Navajo Technical University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Crownpoint, United States) |
| Project start | August 7, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $768,269 |
| NIH project number | 1S06GM165006-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11370507 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults in Diné communities at risk for or living with diabetes and/or H. pylori infection who are engaged with Navajo Nation and NTU programs.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals outside the target Diné communities or those not able to engage with tribal-led programs may not benefit.
What this research studies
This program creates the Collaborative Research Center for Diné Health at NTU to study how Indigenous food systems and traditional knowledge can support better health for the Diné people. It plans to use a mix of biology, chemistry, and engineering approaches—like screening natural compounds, microencapsulation, and special farming methods—guided by tribal perspectives and community input. The center will also focus on building local research capacity and workforce development to sustain culturally grounded health solutions. The work aims to produce locally meaningful interventions that respect Diné culture while pursuing scientific validation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could yield culturally aligned strategies to reduce diabetes burden and infectious diseases in Navajo communities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown promise in integrating traditional knowledge with modern science to improve health outcomes in Indigenous communities, but this specific center is novel in its integrated infrastructure and tribal-led approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Navajo Technical University
Crownpoint, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ane Anyangwe, Irene Ngoh — Navajo Technical University
- Study coordinator: Ane Anyangwe, Irene Ngoh
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.